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Science Culture:Where Canada Stands

The Expert Panel on the State of Canada’s Science Culture

Council of Canadian Academies Conseil des académies canadiennes

Science Advice in the Public InterestLe savoir au service du public

Arthur CartyMarc LepageJay IngramAugust 27, 2014

Canadians rank highly when it comes to science knowledge, attitudes & engagement

“Canadians perform well across a range of science culture indicators. However, it is important that we continue to strive for a society that looks to science to help inform our decisions and broaden our world view.”

Dr. Arthur Carty, O.C., Expert Panel Chair

Defining Science Culture

A society has a strong science culture when it embraces discovery & supports the use of scientific knowledge & methodology. Such a culture encourages the education and training of a highly skilled workforce and the development of an innovative knowledge-based economy.

Assessing Science CultureScience culture is multidimensional and has four key dimensions.

Public Attitudes Towards Science

Public Science Engagement

Public Science Knowledge

Science & Technology Skills

The Panel’s SurveySurvey of over 2,000 randomly-selected Canadians

• Carried out in April, 2013

• Conducted by EKOS Research, Inc.

• Included combination of landline, mobile, and internet respondents

• Results weighted by age, region, gender, and education to be representative of the national population.

• Accurate nationally +/- 2.2% at 95% confidence interval

Designed to be comparable with:

i. International surveys (US, EU, Japan, China, India, Brazil, Russia)

ii. 1989 survey of Canadians

Attitudes & Reservations Towards S &TThe Public have positive attitudes & low reservations about S&T

• Science and technology are making our lives healthier, easier, and more comfortable.

• With the application of science and new technology, work will become more interesting.

• Because of science and technology, there will be more opportunities for the next generation.

Attitudes towards the promise of science

• It is not important for me to know about science in my daily life.

• We depend too much on science and not enough on faith.• Science makes our way of life change too fast.

Reservations about science

72

67

74

17

25

35

% Agree

Public Engagement in ScienceIndicator % Rank

% of pop. interested in new scientific discoveries and technological developments 93 1st out of 33 countries

% of pop. that visited a S&T museum at least once in previous year 32 2nd out of 39 countries

% of pop. that signs petitions or joins street demonstrations on matters of nuclear power, biotechnology, or the environment

23 3rd out of 33 countries

% of pop. that attends public meetings or debates about science and technology 14 5th out of 33 countries

% of pop. that participates in activities of an NGO dealing with science/technology related issues

14 1st out of 33 countries

% of pop. donates to fundraising campaigns for medical research 63 7th out of 33 countries

Drivers of Interest in ScienceCanadian Interest in Science by Demographic Group

Interest in science is higher among:

• Younger respondents

• More educated respondents

• Higher income respondents

• Men vs. women

Data Source: Panel survey data

Similar patterns found in demographic drivers for other science culture dimensions.

Measuring Science LiteracyCivic Science Literacy by Country

Canada ranks 1st out of all countries on a science literacy index based on these factual and open-ended survey questions.

Public Science KnowledgeCanadian Science Knowledge, 2013

Some Canadians struggled to correctly answer true or false questions on various science terms and facts.

Does the sun go around the

earth, or does the earth go

around the sun?

All radioactivity is man-made

Electrons are smaller than

atoms.

Lasers work by focusing sound

waves.

Antibiotics kill viruses as well

as bacteria.

0102030405060708090

10087

72

5853 53

% C

orr

ec

t R

es

po

ns

es

Data Source: Panel survey data

Canadian PISA Science and Math Scores, 2003-2012

• Canadian students perform well on international assessments of science and mathematics ranking second among G7 countries

• However, since 2006, Canada’s PISA scores and rank have declined, raising concerns about future performance

Canadian Students Scientific Knowledge, Internationally Strong But Declining

Science Culture Trends: 1989 - 2013

Since an earlier Canadian survey in 1989:• Public science knowledge increased

• Public science engagement increased

• Public reservations about science declined

• University science and engineering enrollments are stable

…however:• Canadians are more skeptical about science’s ability to

solve social problems

• Declining PISA scores in science and math are cause for concern

Canada has a diverse constellation of organizations, programs, and initiatives that support science culture, including over:

Institutional and Social Support

• 400 initiatives related to science centres/museums, zoos, aquariums.

• 64 associations and NGOs

• 49 educational initiatives

• 60 government policies and programs,

• 27 media programs.

Rio Tinto Planetarium, Montreal

The Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre, Whitehorse

Promising interventions organized under five themes:

Cultivating a Strong Science Culture

Supporting Lifelong Science Learning

• Need for effective formal science education system; and• Informal science learning resources that adults continue to access throughout their

lives.

Making Science Inclusive

• Target existing inequalities• Adapt learning and engagement strategies to the cultural context and audience

Adapting to New Technologies

• All science culture supporters are adapting to new technologies• Use new technologies to connect to new audiences, customize learning• Adjust to changing business models

Enhancing Science Communication and

Engagement

• Create incentives for public science communication• Engage the public in areas of science decision-making • Acknowledge controversy and debate• Use connections between science and the arts

Providing National or Regional Leadership

• Provide leadership and vision• Articulate a framework for coordination and information sharing• Celebrate science• Support science education in the school system

Science culture is also about ensuring that all individuals and all segments of society have opportunities to share in the wonder and excitement of science.

Final Reflections

• Canada has a strong science culture in many respects.

• However, there is room for improvement.

• Many Canadians struggle to explain key scientific concepts which could make it difficult to follow important public issues.

• Canada can continue to learn from initiatives in other countries, develop more regular and robust approaches to assessing science culture.

Developing a strong science culture in Canada remains a work in progress.

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Thank you

Council of Canadian Academies

Conseil des académies canadiennes

@scienceadvice www.scienceadvice.cawww.sciencepourlepublic.ca

The full report is available for download from the Council’s website, www.scienceadvice.ca

Council Contact: Cathleen Meechan, cathleen.meechan@scienceadvice.ca

SMCC Contact: Tyler Irving, tyler.irving@sciencemedia.ca